2014 brought a change at the top in Illinois and in McLean County law enforcement. (WJBC file photo).
By Terry James
BLOOMINGTON – A new sheriff and a shift in parties at the top in Illinois marks one of the top stories in 2014.
Jon Sandage is the new sheriff for McLean County as Mike Emery retires.
"I think the citizens will benefit in the fact that I won't need a training period coming in," said Sandage. "I'm currently with the department and day one I can take over and run it the way I see fit."
In U.S. Congressional races, the Republicans kept their seats. In the 18th Congressional District, Aaron Schock is serving another term.
"Whether I wake up in D.C. or in Illinois, voting on legislation or working on projects around my district, it's an honor to serve, and I think we've got a lot to show and clearly the voters have recognized that and have awarded me with a fourth term, and I'm grateful for that," said Schock.
In the 13th Congressional District, Rodney Davis will continue to be the representative.
"I look very forward to working with our new governor, Bruce Rauner, working with his department of transportation so that we can have a federal and state partnership and work together to fix our crumbling infrastructure. These are opportunities that we have now," said Davis.
Davis mentioned the shift in power at the top as Republican Bruce Rauner defeated current Governor Pat Quinn.
"We cannot allow our government to be wasteful, inefficient, ineffective, because every dollar wasted in goverment operation is a dollar away from our most vulnerable families and our young people in need and our elderly citizens in need," said Rauner.
Quinn accepted the defeat, but not on election night as he felt the vote was too close to call.
"We are the government of the many, and we do have to take on the government of the money, and we will never, every yield to a result until all the votes are in," said Quinn on election night. Quinn later conceded.
Terry James can be reached at terry@wjbc.com.
